Trump talks again: Ramaphosa pushes SA’s G20 vision

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in Canada, marking their second meeting in a month following Ramaphosa’s recent White House visit.

Ramaphosa will travel to Kananaskis, from 14 to 17 June to attend and take part in the G7 Leaders’ Summit.

Ramaphosa aims to strengthen political and economic ties with the US and encourage Trump to attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa.

Ramaphosa highlighted several important bilateral meetings planned alongside the summit, including talks with Germany’s Chancellor, Canada’s Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump.

“The G7 gives us an opportunity to go and propagate our message, the message about the presidency of South Africa’s G20 and how we want to see great outcomes of the G20. We’re going to use it as a platform to begin to consolidate what we want to have in November when the leaders’ summit takes place here,” he said.

[ON AIR] President Cyril Ramaphosa will attended the G7 leaders’ summit in Canada this weekend. Interestingly, Ramaphosa will once again have a meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump. Sophie Mokoena speaks to @AshrafGarda on #TheNationalPulse @SABCNews_Radio @SABCNews pic.twitter.com/O6T6A4nVuY

— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) June 13, 2025

Ramaphosa defended his recent visit to the White House, calling it a strategic effort to reset relations with the United States, a key trading partner.

He dismissed claims that he was summoned by Trump, saying that the visit was initiated by South Africa.

“We do confirm that our visit to the White House in the United States was a moment where South Africa set out to reset the relationship with the United States, and I do believe that we have achieved that.

“Many people were very critical of our going there…and some were even suggesting that we were summoned. We were not summoned. In my telephone conversation with President Trump two weeks earlier, I said, I want to come and see you. And immediately conceded to that, and later they gave us a date. So that is not summoning, it is us taking the initiative that we want to go and see him,” Ramaphosa said.

He said the meeting opened doors for deeper engagement on trade and diplomacy, and he used the opportunity to urge Trump to attend the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.

Compiled by Betha Madhomu